Staple packaging machine and method



March 31, 1970 R. .1. MOSETICH ETAL 3,503,484

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22. 1967 INVENTORS RONALD J. MOSETICH JOHN MOSETIOH AIVARS OSIS ATTORNEYS March 1970 R. J. MOSETICH E"I'AL 3,503,484

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 22, 1967 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 I h d i U H H 1 H6 2 //21 9/2 1! F|G.24(0F25) M if ii i: .H In [1! 1H 25 55 W E E I U n u 1 1i \NVENTORS 1 RONALD J. MOSETICH H a JOHN MOSETICH O AIVARS OSIS 6! HHIEIW'IUUH g i W, E i w W ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 22, 1967 11 Sheets-Sheet s ll PZ I M x INVENTORS r\ RONALD J. MOSETICH JOHN MOSETICH a zar FIG. 3(0F\) AIVARS OSIS BY 7 4 MM,

WF W.

ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 22, 1967 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4 (OF!) INVENTORS l/- RONALD J. MOSETICH JOHN MOSETICH AIVARS OSIS W I ATTORNEYS FIG.6(0F5) Ma h 31, 1 7 R. .1. {MOSETICH ETAL 3,503,484

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 22, 1967 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 2/ 53 77 FIG. 8 (OF I) 32 FIG. 9 (OF INVENTORS RONALD J. MOSETIOH JOHN MOSETICH AIVARS OSIS BY /4 0 /4W.-/

W f w.

ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,5

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 22, 1967 FIG. ll (0P8) INVENTORS RONALD J. MOSETIGH JOHN moss'ncn AIVARS OSIS I F W ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,

STAPLE PACKAGING MAQHINE AND METHOD 1'1 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 22, 1967 ATTORNEYS INVENTORS RONALD J. MOSETICH JOHN MOSETIOH AIVARS OSIS BY 4 :zh hrzz5:5: 255E .1.

March 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,503,484

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 8 a i'i MM I mvsu'roa RONALD J. MOSETICH 'JOHN MQSETICH AIVARS OSIS BY ZI/W/ WW I f y, ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD 9 W m t R] W E WU N m NSC w R E0 m .w W US T J S A h 0 S D l L R l ANA ww RJ A W VI 8 0N vw/ i ow WM 7 Filed Aug. 22, 1967 March 31', 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 22, 1967 INVENTORS RONALD J, MOSETICH \DHN MOSETICH AIVARS OSIS vmv n V k BYMM 4/,

ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 R. J. MOSETICH ETAL 3,503,484

STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 22, 1967 l1 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS RONALD J. MOSE'TlCH JOHN MOSETIOH AIVARS OSIS z/W, BY 1 5' 6/444 ATTORNEYS United States Patent STAPLE PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD Ronald J. Mosetich, Lombard, John Mosetich, Elmhurst,

and Aivars Osis, Norridge, Ill., assignors to Fastener Corporation, Franklin Park, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 662,394 Int. Cl. B65g 47/24 US. Cl. 198-33 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine is provided for packaging layers of staples into a carton, each layer including adjacent pairs of nested staple strips nested oppositely relative to each other. The machine receives the individual strips, turns alternate ones of the strips about their longitudinal axis, and deposits the strips into a layer. The layer along with a separating divider is then pushed into a carton. A method is also provided for packaging staplers and including forming a layer of pairs of nested staple strips nested oppositely to each other, and thereafter depositing simultaneously a layer of staple strips and a divider into the carton.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for packaging staples, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for packaging layers of staples into a carton, each layer including a plurality of adjacent pairs of nested staple strips, the strips of each pair being nested opporsitely relative to each other.

Staples are commonly packaged, particularly for commercial use, in layers in a carton, with each layer including a plurality of adjacent pairs of nested staple strips, the strips of each pair being nested oppositely relative to each other. The adjacent layers are separated by a suitable divider. Heretofore it has been the customary commercial practice to fill such staple cartons by hand with one loader handling the output of each staple making machine. It will be appreciated that staples are used in very large quantities, and the hand packaging of the staples is time consuming and expensive.

Accordingly it would be desirable to provide an improved staple packaging machine and method for automatically and economically packaging the output of the staple making machines into a suitable carton for storage handling and transporting of the staples.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a staple packaging machine for packaging layers of staples into a carton.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved staple packaging machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved staple loading mechanism for loading layers of staples into a carton, each layer being separated by a divider.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide a new and improved method of packaging staples.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description pro- 3,503,484 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided a staple packaging machine for packaging layers of staples into a carton, each layer including a plurality of adjacent pairs of nested staple strips. The strips of each pair are nested oppositely relative to each other with the crowns thereof opposite each other and the legs in engaging side by side parallel relation. The staple packaging machine includes a plurality of staple carriers for successively receiving individual strips of staples from one or more staple producing machine. Each of the staple strips is transferred from the staple making machine to the staple packaging machine in the same alignment. The staple carriers are transferred to a staple unloading or stripping station, and each alternate carrier is rotated through a half a turn from the loading to the unloading station so as to orient alternate strips of staples opposite to the other strips thereof. Each successive strip of staples is pushed transversely by suitable means to provide proper positioning of the subsequent strip. Thus there is formed a layer of staples on the unloading station preparatory to loading into the cartons.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention suitable means are provided for loading the layers of staples into a carton with a divider between the layers. Thus a storage bin for the dividers is provided above the layer of pairs of nested staple strips on the unloading table and means are provided for simultaneously dispensing one of the dividers and for transferring the layer of staples with the divider into the carton. The carton is supported on a vertically movable table and will lower vertically the combined thickness of the layer and the divider after each loading step so as to align the top of each divider with the table preparatory to receiving a succeeding layer of staples.

The present invention also relates to an improved method of loading staples and, briefly, includes forming a layer of nested staples onto a working table, and thereafter transferring the layer of nested staples along with a divider, into a suitable carton.

For a better understanding of the. present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the improved stable packaging machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary right end view of the staple packaging machine of FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrating the carton handling mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the staple packaging machine of FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the staple orienting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the staple stripping and stacking mechanism taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back sectional view of the staple packaging machine illustrating operating mechanism of the staple stripping and stacking mechanism and taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a pusher cam forming a part of the staple stripping and stacking mechanism and taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of an alternate one of.the pusher cams forming a part of the staple stripping and stacking mechanism and taken along line 77 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine illustrating the gearbox of the staple orienting mechanism and taken along line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the operating clutch means of the staple packaging machine taken along line 99 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the gear means in the staple orienting mechanism and taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the gear means forming a part of the staple orienting unit and taken along line 1111 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine taken along line 1212 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the staple stripping mechanism in one of its positions;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine and illustrating the details of the staple stripping mechanism. of FIG. 12, but illustrated in the other of its working positions;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view illustrating the interconnection between the staple stripping mechanism and the stripper mechanism of the staple carrier and taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine illustrating the operation of the orienting arms;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine, illustrating the operation of the orienting arms of FIG. 15, and illustrated in another of its positions;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the staple packaging machine taken along line 1717 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the staple transfer mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the staple transfer mechanism of FIG. 17, illustrated in another of its operating positions;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of the divider feed mechanism forming a part of the carton feeding and loading system and taken along line 19--19 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view illustrating the divider feeding mechanism of FIG. 19 in another of its operative positions, and taken along line 2020 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a detail view of an operating means of a carton feeding and loading mechanism and taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view of the divider feed arrangement of the staple feeding and loading section taken along line 2222 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the staple packaging machine illustrating the carton arid divider feeding mechanism and taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the carton feeding mechanism, taken along line 2424 of FIG. 23;

FIGS. 25a through 25 j are a plurality of sectional views illustrating the sequence of steps in orienting staples in a nested relation, including the transfer of the staples transversely of their axes onto the loading area;

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of a staple arm assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a staple carton partially full of staple strips.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided an improved staple packaging machine 30 according to the present invention. The staple packaging machine 30 will package layers 32 of staples into a carton, such as a carton 34 best shown in FIG. 27. Each of the layers 32 of staples is formed of a plurality of adjacent pairs of strips 36 and 37 of nested staples. One strip 36 of each pair is positioned with its bight down, its legs extending upwardly; while the other strip 37 of each pair is positioned with its bight upwardly and its legs extending downwardly nested within the first strip 36, better illustrated in FIG. 25d. Each of the layers 32 in the carton 34 is separated by a suitable divider 38.

The staple packaging machine is provided with a staple orienting mechanism, generally shown at 40 and adapted to receive strips of staples at a workstation A from one or more staple making machines (not shown) and to orient the staples on a worktable 41 at a workstation B in the oppositely nested relationship. The staple packaging machine 30 also includes a staple stripping and stacking mechanism generally represented at 42 for forming the layers 32 of oriented staples discharged from the staple orienting mechanism. Upon completion of each of the layers 32, the layers 32 are packaged within the carton 34 by a carton feeding and loading mechanism 44 defining a part of the staple packaging machine.

STAPLE ORIENTING MECHANISM The staple orienting mechanism 40, best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, 8 through 16 and 36, utilizes a turret 48 having a plurality of fixed arms or staple carriers 49 and a plurality of rotatable arms or staple carriers 50 intermediate therewith. The turret 48 is rotatable about a horizontal axis 51 and is programmed to index a quarter revolution at each operation. Moreover each of the rotatable arms 50 will rotate a quarter turn about its longitudinal axis during each indexing operation of the turret 48. Thus alternate strips 36, 37 of staples received on one of the arms of the turret 48 will be delivered to the diametrically opposed workstation B turned oppositely relative to each other to permit the opposite nesting of the strips.

To provide for indexing the turret 48, and for rotating the rotatable arms 50, the turret 48 is driven by a suitable drive such as a rotary actuator 54, FIGS. 1 and 10, set to rotate 91 degrees at each cycling. The rotary actuator 54 operates through a one way or ratchet clutch 55 driving a drive shaft 56 of the turret 48. Adjustable setscrews 57 and 58, FIG. 9, permit accurate stopping of the turret 48 and accurate rotation thereof to a quarter turn for each actuation of the rotary actuator 54. It will be understood that the clutch 55 permits one degree of overtravel of the rotary actuator 54 during each cycling thereof thereby to provide for complete indexing of the turret 48 during each index operation. The drive shaft 56 is rigidly secured to a gear spider 59, FIGS. 8, 10 and 11, within a turret housing or gearbox 60. Thus the turret housing 60 rotates as a unit with the drive shaft 56.

Each of the fixed arms 49 has a shaft portion 62 extending into the gear spider 59 as secured in place by respective setscrews 63 so that the fixed arms 49 turn with the turret 48, but otherwise do not rotate about their axes.

Each of the rotatable arms 50 has an inwardly extending shaft portion 64 extending into the turret housing 60. Respective miter or bevel gears 65 are secured to the shaft portion 64 in any suitable manner as with suitable keys 66 so as to rotatably mount the respective rotatable arms 50. The miter gears 65 in turn engage a stationary miter gear 67 fixed to the frame of the staple packaging machine through a suitable gear support 68 and bracket 69, FIGS. 10 and 11.

For accurately positioning the turret 48, there is provided a detent wheel 72 fixedly secured to a shaft portion 59a of the spider 59 which extends rotatably through the stationary miter gear 67. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 the detent wheel 72 is provided with spaced detcnts 73 in its periphery engageable with a spring biased plunger 74, FIG. 11, to fix the stop positions of the turret 48.

The arms 49 and 50 must support the staple strips 36 and 37 during the vertical rotation thereof and further must provide for removal or stripping of the staple strip upon delivery of the staple strip to the workstation B.

As best illustrated in FIG. 26, there is illustrated the de tail structure of a fixed arm 49. However it is to be understood that the rotatable arms 50- are similar in structure therewith. Each of the arms 49 (and 50) includes a staple support or bar 77 generally elongated to conform to the shape of the staples and provided with a longitudinal slot therein. The inner end of the staple support is formed in a T-head 77a receivable within a T-slot 78a in a staple arm support identified as 78 and 78' for the fixed and rotatable arms respectively. A pair of setscrews 79 extending through the staple arm support lock the staple bar 77 in place. A staple hold down spring 80 is secured to the T-head end of the staple bar 77 along one edge thereof for frictionally gripping the bight portions of the staple strips received on the staple bar 77. A staple stripper 81 is adapted to be pulled longitudinally of the staple bar 77 guided by a lockpin 82 riding in the longitudinal slot 77b and secured through suitable spaced apertures 82a in the stapler stripper 81. A staple stripper spring 83 locks the staple stripper 81 to the respective staple arm support 78, 78 when the staple stripper 81 is at rest. To this end the staple stripper spring is provided with an enlarged or cylindrical head 83a seatable within a detent groove 78b in the staple arm support 78, 78'. Thus when it is desired to remove a strip of staples from the staple bar 77, it is merely necessary to slide the staple stripper 81 longitudinally along the staple bar 77, guided by the lockpin 82 riding in the slot 77b. Forward movement of the staple stripper 81 will unseat the head 83a of the staple stripper spring 83 from the detent 7811.

From the above detailed description, the operation of the staple orienting mechanism is believed clear. However, briefly, referring to FIGS. 3, and 16, it will be understood that the staple strips 36 and 37 as produced by one or more staple making machines will be delivered on a conveyor or other suitable means, illustrated in FIG. 3 as 86, to be transferred to one of the staple bars 77 when the turret 48 is at rest. Transfer of a staple strip from the staple conveyor 86 will actuate a suitable control such as a microswitch 87 to cause rotation of the turret 48 about its horizontal axis 51. The turret will index a quarter revolution. Simultaneously the rotatable arms 50 will both turn through a quarter turn due to the interengagement of the miter gear 65 contained thereon with the stationary miter gear 67. At the succeeding indexing of the turret 48, the rotatable arms 50 will revolve an additional quarter turn so that during movement of the rotatable arms 50 between the receiving station A and the workstation B, the rotatable arms 50 will have turned through a half revolution about their longitudinal axes. It will be understood that the fixed arms 49, rotating as a unit with the turret 48, will not have been rotated about their axes. Thus alternate ones of the arms 49 and 50 will deliver the staple strips 36 and 37 in opposite relation relative to each other to the station B.

During indexing of the turret 48 and revolution of the rotatable arms 50, the staple hold down spring 80 is effective to prevent the staple strips 36 and 37 from falling off the respective staple bars 77.

When it is desired to discharge the staple strips from an arm 77 at the discharge station B, it is merely necessary to slide the staple stripper 81 along the staple bar 77, the lockpin 82 sliding in the slot 77b. Initial movement of the staple stripper 81 will unlatch the staple stripper spring 83 from the detent groove 78]).

STAPLE STRIPPING AND STACKING MECHANISM The staple stripping and stacking mechanism 42 of the staple packaging machine functions to remove or strip the staple strips 36 and 37 from their respective staple bars 77 at the workstation B and to transversely align the staple strips so that alternate ones of the staple strips will next oppositively relative to each other and so that the pairs of nested staple strips form a layer Which may be subsequently loaded into a carton. The operation of the staple stripping and stacking mechanism 42 is automatically and sequentially controlled by operation of the turret 48.

The staple stripping and stacking mechanism is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 25. Referring first to FIGS. 25a to 25 j, the sequence of operations necessary to form the layer 32 of staples is illustrated. One of the fixed arms 49 carrying a strip 36 of staples is indexed to the workstation B and the staple strip 36 is stripped from the staple bar by the staple stripper 81 (not shown in FIG. 25). Thereafter a staple pusher 90 is moved transversely of the staple strip 36 to reposition the staple strip 36 transversely a distance less than its width as illustrated in FIG. 25b. Thereafter the staple strip 37 is deposited at the workstation B from a rotatable arm 50, as illustrated in FIG. 25c. Subsequently the staple pusher 90 moves the staple strips 36 and 37 transversely slightly more than the width of the staples, as illustrated in FIG. 25d so that when the turret is again indexed another one of the staple strips 36 can be deposited by a fixed arm 49 without interfering with the staple strips 36 and 37 already at the workstation B, as illustrated in FIG. 25e. The staple pusher 90 will once again move the staples part of the width of a staple, as illustrated in FIG. 25 so that the. subsequent staple strip 37 deposited from a rotatable arm 50 will nest with the last staple strip 36, as illustrated in FIG. 25g. Again the staple pusher 90 wi l realign and clear the staple strips 36 and 37, as indicated in FIG. 25h so that upon further indexing of the turret the staple arm 49 can deposit another staple strip 36. This sequence of operation continues until an entire layer of staples is built up on the worktable 41 at the workstation B The staple strips 36 and 37 are automatically stripped from the staple bars 77 at the completion of the indexing of the turret by means of a stripper cylinder 91, FIGS. 1, 3, 12 and 13 working through a cylinder yoke 92 and stripper forks 94. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the lockpin 82 sliding in the slot 77b extends through the openings 82a in the lockpin 82 and will be received in a groove 94a defined in the stripper fork 94 by inwardly extending arms 94b thereof. The lockpin 82 will automatically be positioned within the groove at the. indexing stop of the turret 48, and will automatically pass through the groove upon further indexing of the turret 48. Thus when the stripper cylinder 91 is automatically actuated through a stroke at the completion of the rotation of the turret 48, the stripper fork 94 will engage the lockpin 82 to slide the stripper 81 along the staple bar 78 and push the staple strips 36 and 37. Return of the cylinder 91 will return the staple stripper 81 so as to latch the staple stripper spring 83 into the respective groove 7811 or 78'b.

Once the staple strips have been deposited on the worktable 41, subsequent indexing of the turret 48 is effective to actuate the staple pusher 90 during an intermediate timing of the turret advance. More specifically, for this purpose there is provided a cam plate 97, FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, secured to the shaft portion 59a of the gear spider 59 so as to rotate with the turret 48. The cam plate 97 contains two pairs of diametrically opposed cams 98 and 99 along its outer face. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lobe or rise of the cams 99 is greater than the lobe or rise of the cams 98. The cams 98 and 99 are effective to pivot a cam follower arm 100 about a pivot pin 101 through engagement of the respective cams with a cam follower 102. The

pivoting of the cam follower arm 100, in turn, moves the tuation of the stripper cylinder 91. More specifically the cylinder yoke 92 will move to the right, as viewed in FIG. 12, from the position indicated in FIG. 12 to the position indicated in FIG. 13. It will be understood that the lockpin 82 on the respective one of the arms 49 or 50 at the staple workstation B will pick within the grooves 49a of the stripper forks 94, as best illustrated in FIG. 14. Retraction of the cylinder mechanism is effective to cause the staple stripper 81 to move outwardly along the stripper bar 77, guided by the lockpin 82 engaging within the slot 77b of the staple bar 77. Upon completion of the stripping operation, the cylinder 91 will return to normal, the stripper fork 94 being pushed back to the position as illustrated in FIG. 12. At this time the staple stripper 81 will be returned to home or neutral, with the head 83a of the staple stripper spring 83 locking within the detent groove 78b or 78b.

During the subsequent indexing operation, one of the cams 98 or 99 will engage the pusher arm 100 to provide for transversely pushing the previously removed staple strip. It will be understood that when the cam follower 102 is engaged by the shallow cam 98, it will effect but a short movement of the pusher rod 90, to the position illustrated in FIGS. 25b or 25f. However on the alternate cycles when the higher lobe earns 99 actuate the cam follower arm 100 through engagement with the cam follower 102, the pusher bar 90 will travel through its greater distance as illustrated in FIGS. 25d and 2511. Thus there will be provided a layer of staples including pairs of oppositely positioned, nested staples deposited on the worktable 41 of the machine.

CARTON FEEDING AND LOADING MECHANISM The carton feeding and loading mechanism 44 of the staple packaging machine 30 functons to transfer a layer 32 of staples from the worktable, along with a divider 38, into a carton. Moreover the carton feeding and loading mechanism automatically supplies and dispenses the dividers as well as the cartoons, indexing the carton being loaded so that the layers 32 of staples are stacked within the carton, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 27.

The carton feeding and loading mechanism is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 17 through 24. Referring first, however, to the carton handling portion of the carton feeding and loading mechanism at best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 23 and 24, there is provided a carton supply bin 110 vertically positioned above the vertically movable carton supporting table 111 and holding a supply of nested cartons 34 to be delivered one at a time as required to the carton supporting table 111. The carton supply bin 110 includese an end wall 112 and spaced side walls 113 to confine the cartons 32. Additionally there is provided an inclined front wall 114, best illustrated in FIG. 23. The cartons 34 are restrained from dropping by a spring biased roller 115. FIGS. 23 and 24 which in turn biases the lowermost ones of the cartons 32 against the end wall 112. To provide for delivering a carton as desired, there is provided a carton cylinder 116 having a carton pusher 117 secured to its connecting rod. The carton pusher 117 is guided for vertical movement in a slot 112a in the end wall 112, and is provided with an inwardly projecting finger 118, FIG. 23, adapted to engage the edge of the lowermost one of the cartons 34, thereby upon actuation of the cylinder 116 to push the lowermost one of the cartons 34 downwardly against the frictional bias created by the pressure of the roller 115.

Upon the discharge of a carton 34 from the carton supply bin 110, the carton rests on the carton supporting table 111. In order to provide for vertical movement of the carton supporting table 111 in stepped relation after the loading of each layer of staples 32 and divider 38, there is provided a gear motor 124, FIG. 23, actuating an elevating screw 125 effective to raise and lower the carton supporting table 111. Moreover the vertical positioning of the carton supporting table 111 is automatically initiated upon the deposit of a layer of staple strips within the carton 34 and is controlled by a microswitch 126 actuated by one of a plurality of vertically adjustable positioning stops 127. An additional microswitch 128 adjustably positioned to be engaged when the carton supporting table 111 reaches its lowermost position is effective to reset the carton feeding and loading mechanism by reversing the gear motor 124 and raising the carton supporting table 111 to its initial position. Raising the carton supporting table 111 to its initial position is effective to actuate a control effecting a stroke of the carton cylinder 116 and feeding the lowermost one of the cartons 34 from the carton supply bin down wardly onto the carton supporting table.

The dividers 38 are simultaneously loaded into the carton 34 at the same time as a layer of staple strips. To this end there is provided a divider bin 132, FIGS. 2, 19, 20, 22 and 23 containing a supply of the dividers 38 biased downwardly in any suitable manner as by a weight 133. The divider bin 132 includes a forward or end wall 134, a pair of side walls 136 and 137, and a back wall 138. Moreover the divider bin is provided with a bottom 140 having a pair of spaced slots 141, FIG. 22, through which rides a pair of spaced pushers 142. The forward wall 134 is spaced above the bottom wall 140 to provide a discharge slot 143, FIGS. 19 and 20. The pusher 142 is provided with an upwardly extending projection or finger 144 which is effective, in its retarded position, to catch the rear edge of a divider 38 and to push the divider through the slot 143 into a carton, as best illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20.

To provide for transferring a layer of staple strips from the worktable 41 at station B and into the carton 34 supported on the carton supporting table 111, there is provided a suitable staple transfer block 146 slideably mounted on the worktable 41 and guided by a guide block 147. The staple transfer block 146 is reciprocable toward and away from the carton 38 on the carton supporting table 111. The divider pusher 142 is secured to the staple loader block 146 for advancement therewith.

Actuation of the staple loader block through a working stroke is under the control of a microswitch 149 actuated when the layer of staples on the worktable 41 at the workstation B is ready for loading, as best illustated in FIGS. 17 and 18. The drive for the staple loader block and associated divider pusher is obtained from the stripper cylinder 91 through an arm projection 150 extending from the cylinder yoke 92. The arm projection 150 has an upwardly extending drive pin 151 extending into a longitudinal slot 146a in the staple transfer block 146. Moreover a spring biased plunger 152 is movable in a transverse groove 14611 in the staple transfer block 146 so that when withdrawn, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 21, the drive pin 151 is free to oscillate Within the slot 146a without driving the staple transfer block 146. However when depressed, the plunger 152 provides a lock with the drive pin 151, so that the staple transfer block is then driven simultaneously with the stripper fork by the stripper cylinder 91, as illustrated in FIG. 18. The plunger 152 is selectively projected or retracted at the proper sequence by the microswitch 149. More specifically when the plunger 149a thereof is depressed by the layer of staples, as indicated in FIG. 22, the microswitch 149 is effective to actuate an hydraulic control cylinder 153 which in turn projects the plunger 152 into the path of the drive pin 151.

From the above detailed description of the invention, the operation of the carton feeding and loading mechanism is believed clear. As heretofore described, the carton feeding and loading mechanism accomplishes several functions. First the carton feeding and loading mechanism provides a supply of cartons in the carton supply him 110, feeding one carton at a time to the carton supporting table 111 as required by the machine. To load a layer 32 of staple strips from those staple strips aligned on the worktable at station B into the carton 34, there is provided the staple transfer block 146 which is effective to make a forward stroke at the proper time whenever a group or layer of staples is ready for loading into the carton 34. The driving force of the staple transfer block is the stripper cylinder 91 which also removes the staple strips 36 or 37 from the staple bar 77. However it will be understood that while the staple stripping operation takes place for each indexing of the machine, the staple transfer block will be actuated only when a group of staple strips constituting a layer of staples is ready for loading so that, in the illustrated embodiment, the staple transfer block performs a working cycle only every twentieth operation of the turret mechanism. Simultaneously with transferring a layer of staples into the carton 34, a divider 38 is loaded on top of the layer 32 of staples from a divider bin 132, the divider 38 being advanced by a divider pusher 142 simultaneously with the advance of the staple transfer block.

As the carton 34 on the carton supporting table 110 is loaded, it is necessary to drop the carton 34 down, thereby realigning the divider surface with the worktable. To this end there is provided the gear motor 124 acting through the elevating screw 125 to lower the table under the control of suitable adjustable stops 127.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to only a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications and embodiments which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

a plurality of staple carriers for successively receiving individual strips of staples at a staple loading station, each aligned the same direction;

means transferring said carriers to a workstation; and

means rotating alternate ones of said carriers between said loading and workstations through a half turn about their longitudinal axes to orient alternate strips of staples opposite to the other strips thereof.

2. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

a turret mechanism having a plurality of elongated staple carriers extending radially therefrom and defining at least one pair of arms fixed and rotatable relative to said turret;

means for intermittingly indexing said turret to transfer said arms sequentially between a loading and workstation; and

means for rotating said rotatable arm about its longitudinal axis while between said stations.

3. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided for rotating said turret about a horizontal axis.

4. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stations are diametrically opposed relative to said turret.

5. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said arms includes an elongated staple bar for receiving a strip of staples with the bight portion of the staples supported on the bar at the legs of the staples overlapping the sides of the bar.

6. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 and including means operated by said turret mechanism for pushing sta-ples at said workstation transversely during indexing of said turret.

7. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

a turret mechanism having a plurality of elongated staple carriers extending radially therefrom and defining at least one pair of arms fixed and rotatable relative to said turret;

each of said arms including an elongated staple bar for receiving a strip of staples with the bight portion of the staples supported on the bar and the legs of the staples overlapping the sides of the bar;

means for intermittingly indexing said turret to transfer said arms sequentially between a loading and workstation;

means for rotating said rotatable arm about its longitudinal axis while between said stations; and

hold down means for supporting a staple strip on said staple bar.

8. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

a turret mechanism having a plurality of elongated staple carriers extending radially therefrom and defining at least one pair of arms fixed and rotatable relative to said turret;

each of said arms including an elongated staple bar for receiving a strip of staples with the bight portion of the staples supported on the bar and the legs of the staples overlapping the sides of the bar;

means for intermittingly indexing said turret to transfer said arms sequentially between a loading and workstation;

means for rotating said rotatable arm about its longitudinal axis while between said stations;

said staple bar being provided with an elongated longitudinal slot; and

a staple stripper for riding on said bar, said staple stripper being guided by a pin extending through said slot in said bar, longitudinal movement of said stripper along said bar being effective to discharge a strip of staples from said staple bar.

9. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 8 and including latch means releasa'bly interlocking said stripper with said carrier.

10. A staple orienting mechanism as set forth in claim 9 and including a stripper fork provided with a groove receiving the ends of said lockpin when said arm is at a workstation, and including actuating means moving said stripper fork longitudinally relative to said arm thereby to drlve said staple stripper through a staple discharging cycle.

11. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

a turret mechanism having a plurality of elongated staple carriers extending radially therefrom and defining at least one pair of arms fixed and rotatable relative to said turret;

means for intermittingly indexing said turret to trans fer said arms sequentially between a loading and workstation;

means for rotating said rotatable arm about its longitudinal axis while between said stations; and

means operated by said turret mechanism for pushing staples at said workstation transversely during indexing of said turret;

said last mentioned means including cam means rotatable with said turret mechanism, and further including cam follower means operated by said cam means during indexing of said turret mechanism to effect positioning of said staple strips.

11 12. A staple orienting mechanism for orienting strips of staples in alternately disposed relation, said mechanism comprising:

staple carrier means for receiving successively individual strips of staples at a staple loading station, each strip being aligned the same direction; means transferring said carrier means to a workstation;

and means alternately rotating said carrier means between said loading and workstations through a half turn about the longitudinal axes of the staple strips to orient alternate ones of the strips of staples opposite to the other strips thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,667,259 1/ 1954 Parker. 2,791,317 5/1957 Cohrs.

RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 214l 

